Typographical composing and casting machine



Aug. 2, 1932. L. E. MORRISON TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSING AND CASTING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Filed Sept. 14,

Aug. 2, 1932. 1.. E. MORRiSON 1,869,940

TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSING AND CASTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 14, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 2, 1932 @TATES PATENT @FFIQE LUTHER.

MORRESON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO TFIERGENTHIXLER LII TOTYPE COEPANY, A CORPORATION NEW YORK TYPOGRAPHICAL OOMEOSEI TG AND CASTING MAGH INE Application filed September 14, 1929. Serial No. 392,620.

' which produce the type characters thereon,

and the matrices thereafter elevated and returned through a distributing mechanism to the magazine from which they started. More particularly, it relates to that class of machines designed to handle matrices provided with two or more superposed 'characters, and wherein the assembllng elevator,

intermediate channel, and first elevator are each provided with two sets of supporting rails whereby the matrices may be composed and maintained at an upper or lower level, or both, as desired, to locate the selected characters in operative position. V

When it is desired to cast a slug from the lower characters of all thematrices of a composed line (as for a solid line of italics), it is the usual practice to assemble: and maintain such matrices,'not at the upper level as would otherwise be required, but at the lower level, and then to arrest the. first elevator in a slightly raised position so as to locate the selected characters opposite the mold slot, such arrest of the elevator being ordinarily effected by a stop member mount ed on the vise frame and adapted to be thrown into action at the will of the operlv, in the use of head-letter Similar I ces or matrices with characters above the same practice is fol owed so as to the p oper alinement of thematrix r i the mold slot. The foregoi.

ens, it operator, througa oversight or carelessness, will assemble matrices at the upper level ice has ven rise to very serious obhappens that an while the'elevator stop is in action, which will result in the improper presentation of the matrix line to the mold and hence produce a squirt, or cause damage to the parts, or both. I V

The present invention is intended to overcome the above objection and aims to prevent the delivery of the matrix line to the mold except un de'nthe proper conditions To this end, the machine is equipped with an automatic safety attachment which will act when the first elevator stop is in active position to bring the matrices, if improperly composed at the upper level, to the lower level before the line is presented to the mold, thereby automatically correcting any faulty setting of the parts.

In one of the embodiments illustrated, the

safety attachment is designed to withdraw the assembled rail during the upward movement of the assembler so as to permit matrices standing at the upper level to drop by gravity to the lower level before the line is transferred from the assembler into the first elevator; whereas in the other or alternative embodiment, the-safety device is designed to withdraw the first elevator rail during the clownward movement-of the elevator so asto per mit matrices standing atthe upper level therein to drop by gravity to the lower level before the line is presented to the mold. The exact manner in which this is accomplished will best be understood from the detailed description to follow.

In prior constructions directed to the same problem, the safety attachments provided are usually in the nature of stop devices which in their ultimate efl'ect prevent the delivery of the matrix line to the mold under improper conditions, but which, after performtheir required functions, impose upon-the operators the taskof correcting" the setting of the parts before the operation of the machine I can be continued. In the present instance, on the other hand,'no attention whatever is required onthe part of the operator, since the safety attachment is such that it alone will take care of any condition arising. In other words, even if the operator should deliberately or unconsciously set the parts in incorrect to any position (i. e. so as to compose matrices at the upper level when the first elevator stop is in use), the condition will be automatically remedied before the line reaches the mold, and the slug will be cast precisely as if the parts were set properly at the outset.

In the accompanying drawings, the present embodiment is shown merely by way of example and in preferred form and as applied to the specific kind of machine mentioned, but obviously many changes and variations may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention, which, it is therefore to be understood, is not limited specific form or embodiment except insofar as such limitations are specified in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of portions of a linotype machine equipped with one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken thru the assembling elevator and the line transfer carriage, showing by the dotted linesthe point or time at which the matrix supporting rail is withdrawn from the elevator during its upward movement;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of portions of a linotype machine equipped with an alternative embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but showing the first elevator rail in its withdrawn position; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the cam piece or abutment employed for withdrawing the first elevator rail.

The matrices X (herein shown as of the two-letter variety), as they are released from their storage magazine, are delivered one by one to the assembler or assembling elevator C wherein they are composed in line, being advanced progressively toward the left by the star wheel A (Fig. 3) against the yielding line resistant B, which latter as well known is supported independently of the elevator. After composition of the line, the elevator C is raised into registration with the intermediate channel D, such movement of the elevator tripping the transfer carriage E, (presenting as usual the long left hand finger E and the short right hand finger E which thereupon shifts the composed line to the left into the first elevator or transporter F. The first elevator then descencs to locate the line between the customary vise jaws V, V and before the casting mold G (Figs. 3 and 4), which latter immediately advances from the rear into engagement therewith preparatory to the casting operation, all as well understood in the art.

As before indicated, the assembling elevator C, the intermediate channel D, and the first elevator F are each provided with two sets of supporting rails, for sustaining the matrices at the upper or lower level, as re quired. This construction is so well known that no detailed. description thereof seems necessary, but to identify the parts, it may be noted that the matrices are sustained at the upper level in the assembling elevator C by the retractable duplex rail C C (Fig. l), and in the first elevator F by the retractable blade or rail F (Fig. 4), which latter figure also shows the fixed rails F for sustaining the matrices at the lower level in thc first elevator. It may also be noted that the mold G is formed at the front with the two superposed grooves G and G in one or the other of which the alining ears of matrices engage according to the level at which they are sustained in the first elevator. If a fuller understanding of the construction and operation of these parts is desired, reference may be had to the Rogers Re. Patent No. 13, l89.

In the normal operation of the machine, the first elevator F is allowed to descend to its lowermost position, as determined by the engagement of its set screw F with the top face of the vise frame H. in this connection, it is pointed out that the elevator is provided with a second set screw F arranged to engage and depress the vise automatic H as the elevator comes to rest. However, for reasons previously noted, the machine is usually equipped with a stop or filler piece J, which may be thrown into action at will to arrest the first elevator in a r ised position with reference to the mold. This stop or filler piece, as customary, is pive d by a reel: shaft J to a block H on the VZSG frame ard is provided with two knobs or interponc; one J to cooperate with the set screw F" in arresting the elevator in its raised positio and the other J (pivotet to cooperate with the set screw F in depressing the vise automatic in the raised position of the cicvator.

All of the foregoing parts are or may be the same as those embodied in the commercial linotype machine and need no further description. To complete the identificatimi of the known parts however, it may be stated that the retrac able rail or blade F of the first elevator is, ordinarily, moved in...) and out of the matrix channel bv means of two pivoted levers F being maint ined mally in active or unretracted postion by the springs F As before stated, when the first elevato is arrested in its raised or upper po. tion, necessary that the matrices be therein at the lower level, as otherwis 1. objections before mentioned will a Thus, if the matrices were tained upper level, as indicated by the full lines Fig. 2, it is evident that their lower earsv would fail to enter the upper alining groove G of the mold G as the latter advances from the rear, so that injury to the parts or a bad squirt would necessarily result. According to the present invention therefore, means are provide for automatically bringing the matrices to the lower level when the first vator is to be arrested in its raised position.

this being done at some point in the travel of the line from the composing to the c position, as during the upward mo the assembling elevatoror du ing t ward movement of ti e e times when the matrices the stop o a rearwardly extending cranl pin J engaged in a vertical elongated slot ri bar or rod K. his ear or rod is e to the right across the vise frame ii slidable longitudinally thereoed in its 1110* ingbloclr pose. pivoted to the lOn hin d at the 1 p, diate channel D. of its length, ti e l ver prov eo w offset arm L formed with a fo' ing cam piece 1 adapted to engage in a or otch C formed in the end of tne a According to the foregoing arrangement of the parts, when the first elevator stop or filler piece J is swung into active position,-its crank arm J will move the rod K to the right, and the latter will in turn swing the lever L to the right, in order to locate the cam piece L inposition to engage in the notch C of the assembler rail C when the assembling elevator C is raised to forward the composed line for casting. This is the condition of the parts as shown in F 1, although here the composed line is shown as composed at both levels instead of solely at the upper level as would ordinarily be the case and as represented in Fig. 2- Sensequently, in the upward movement of the assembling elevator, the cam piece If, by its engagement with the notch C will move the rail C forwardly to its inactive position and thereby allow the matrices to fall to the lower level in the elevator, all as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2. In this connection, it is pointed out that the vertical location of the cam piece L is such that its withdrawal of the assembler rail'takes place after the composed line has been lifted clear of the line resistant B and before it reachesthe short right hand finger E of the line transfer carriage E, so that the matrices are free to fall by gravity and without having to overcome any resistance offerec by the line resistant or by the transfer finger. By thus bringing the matrices to the lower level in as at if, on t at a pointan the assembling elevator, the composed line will of course be transferredto the first ele vator at that level and hence will be properly presented to the mold when the first elevator is arrested in its upper or raised position by the stop or filler piece J. I

if, at the time the assembling elevatoris raised, the rail C occupies its withdrawn or inactive position, it will clear the cam piece L even'though the stop or filler piece is in active position; and likewise, if the stop or filler piece occupies its inactive position at the time the assembling elevator is raised, the cam piece will be located out of engaging relation to the assembler rail even though the latter is in active position. In other words, the cam piece is operative only when: both the assembler rail and the stop or filler piece are both in active position. This is as it should be, because at other times the objectionable condition before noted does not arise. a

As a modification of the foregoing arrangement, the cam piece L instead of being carried by the swinging lever L, could be mounted directly on the end of the-rod K such that, as the rod is moved to the right by the setting in position of the stop or filler piece J, the. cam piece will engage in the notch C immediately and move the assembler rail C to inactive position. in this way, the

. assembler rail could be automatically withdrawn before the line is actually composed. In the event that the assembler rail should at the time be occupying its withdrawn position, the cam piece would simply enter the notch C in an idle fashion, and once within the notch, it would thereafter serve to prevent the assembler rail from being moved back into active position until the first elevator stopor filler piece were moved to its inactive position.

Eeferring now to theembodiment illustrated in Figs. 3 to 6, the same effect as described connection with the first embodiment is brought about by withdrawing the rail F of the first elevator F during its downward or mold presenting movement. In providing for such withdrawal of the rail F", its two operating lovers F instead of being pivoted independently as ordinarily, are fastened to a common rock shaft F so as to be operated in unison by the turning of said shaft. The shaft F is extended to the left beyond the end of the matrix supporting rail F and is provided at its eXtremitv with a short upstanding arm F formed with a rounded end which is adapted in the downward movement of the elevator to engage the rear face of a cam or abutment M carried b an upright post or bracket M. The post or bracket M is mounted on a base M slidable to the'left and right in a dove-tailed guideway formed in theblock H towhich the stop oriiller piece J is pivoted. In this instance however the rock shaft J of the stgp or filler piece is provided at its rear en (in place of the crank arm J and crank pin J with a cam or eccentric J 6 rotatable within a slotted plate M attached to the base M see Fig. 6.

With this alternative arrangement of the parts, when the stop or filler piece J is turned to its inactive position, the cam or abutment M is moved to the left out of the path of movement of the roc shaft arm F (see the dotted line showing in Fig. 8), and hence the rail F will be allowed to remain in its active or unretracted position during the movement of the first elevator. This is because, as previously stated or intimated, the level at which the matrices are composed or transferred to the first elevator is of no consequence so long as the first elevator stop is out of action. However, when the stop or filler piece is swung into active position, the cam or abutment M is moved to the right into the path of movement of the arm F, as shown by the full lines in Fig. 3, and as a result, during the downward movement of the first elevator, the arm F will be moved rear- Wardly by the abutment M and, by turning the rock shaft F will cause the levers F to Withdraw the rail F against the action of the springs F thus allowing the matrices to drop to the lower level within the elevator where they will then be supported by the fixed rails F '(see Fig. In this way, even though the matrices may have been improperly composed at the upper level in the assembler, they will be automatically brought to the lower level before they are presented to the mold, thereby avoiding the objectionable condition which would otherwise obtain.

The vertical location of the cam or abutment M is such that the withdrawal of the elevator rail F will take place before the composed line enters between the vise jaws V, V so that the matrices are free to drop by gravity and without having to overcome the resistance offered by the vise jaws.

If the rail were maintained in its withdrawn position, it would (as the machine is now constructed) strike against the vise frame and obstruct the downward movement of the first elevator. For this reason, the cam or abutment M is made relatively short and located high enough to break engagement with the arm F in time to permit the rail F to be moved back into the first elevator by the springs F before the rail reaches the vise frame (see the dotted line showing in Fig. 4). It will be observed however that the ver tical face of the abutment M is of sufficient extent to maintain the elevator rail in its retracted position long enough to permit the matrices to fall by gravity to the lower level.

In order to provide clearance for the arm F in the lower position of the first elevator when the stop or filler piece is in its inactive position, the abutment sliding base M is formed in its rear face with a cut or notch M see Fig. 6. It may also be noted that the height of the abutment M is not great enough to interfere with the interponent J 2 of the stop or filler piece J as the latter is swung to and from its active position.

The second or alternative embodiment of the invention just described is particularly adapted for use in connection with the first elevator construction embodied in the standard or commerical linotype machines. As is well known however, there are various other forms of casting elevators to which the invention could as readily, if not more readily, be applied; and in some of these other forms, the construction is such that the matrices are forced down to the lower level as the elevator rail is withdrawn (see the Degener Patent No. 1,017,387 Using this Degener patent by way of example, it is obvious that the rtatable grooved matrix supporting rail therein shown could be operated for the purpose herein proposed in much the same way as the rock shaft F of the alternative embodiment above discussed. These and various other modifications will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention and without avoiding the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a typographical composing and casting machine, the combination of means for composing matrices in line at different levels, means for presenting the composed line to the mold at different levels, and automatic means for bringing the matrices composed at an upper level to a lower level before casting takes place. 7

2. In a typographical composing and cast ing machine, the combination of an adjustable member to control the level at which the matrices are composed in line, an adjustable member to control the level at which the composed line is presented to the mold, and automatic means for bringing the matrices com posed at an upper level to a lower level before casting takes place when the second mentioned adjustable member is set to cause presentation of the composed line at an upper level.

3. In a typographical composing and casting machine, the combination of an adjustable member to control the level. at which the matrices are composed in line, an adjustable member to control the level at which the com posed line is presented to the mold, and automatic means for moving the first mentioned adjustable member to inactive position when the other member is set in active position.

4. In a typographical composing and casting machine, the combination of an assembler wherein the matrices are composed in line and provided with a matrix supporting rail adjustable to active or inactive position in determining the level at which the matrices are composed, a vertically movable transfor permitting it to descend to a normal lower posi ion with reference to the mold, and automatic means for moving the assembl r rail to inactive position when the stop or filler piece is set in active position.

5. In a typographical composing and casting machine, the combination of a vertically movable assembler wherein the matrices are composed in line and provided with a matrix en T ortin rail ad'ustable to active or inac-' tive position in determining the level at which the matrices are composed, a vertically movable transporter adapted to receive the composed line from the assembler and present it to the mold, a stop or filler piece adjustable to active or inactive position for arresting the lin transporter infa raised position or for at ng it to descend to a normal lower on with reference to the mold, and automatic means acting during the vertical movement of the assembler for shifting the matrix supporting rail to inactive position to permit matrices supported thereby to drop to the lower level when the stop or filler piece is set in activ position, whereby matrices improperly composed at an upper level will be brought to the lower level before casting takes place. i

6. In a typo raphical composing and casting machine, tne combination of a vertically movable-assembler wherein the matrices are composed in line and provided wlth a matrix supporting rail ad ustable to active or mactive position in determining the level at which the matrices are composed, an independently supported yielding line resistant against which the matrices are composed, a vertically movable transporter for presenting the composed line to the mold, a line transfer carriage for shifting the composed line from the assembler into the transporter, said carriage pre enting a long left hand finger and "ight hand finger, a stop or filler piece adj let-able to active or inactive position for arresting the line transporter in a raised position or to permit it to descend to a normal lower pos" i n with reference to the mold, and automatic means acting during the upward movement of the assembler for shifting the mat supporting rail to inactive position when the stop or filler piece is set in active f be assembler rail when the composed line free of the line resistant and before it becomes engaged with the short right hand finger of the transfer carriage, whereby matrices improperly composed at an upper level will )osition, said means effecting such shifting I be brought tothe takes place.

7. In a typographical composing and casting machine, a combination as in claiml, wherein the automatic rail retracting means lower level before casting include a cam piece adapted to engagethe assemblcr rail, and wherein said cam piece is set in its rail engaging position by the movement of the stop or filler piece to activeposition. V

'8. In a typographical composing and casting machine, the combination of an assembier wherein the matrices are composed in line and provided with a retractable rail upon which the matrices are supported therein at an upper level, a vertically movable transporter adapted to receive the composed" line from the assembler and present it to the mold, said transporter also being provided with a retractable rail upon which the matrices are supported therein at an upper level, a stop or filler piece adapted to be set in an active or inactive position for arresting the line transporter in a raised position or for permitting it to descend to a normal lower position with reference to the mold, and automatic means for withdrawing one of the matrix supporting rails before casting takes place when the stop or filler piece is set in active position.

9. In a typographical composing and casting machine, the combination of a line transporter for presenting a composed line of matrices to the mold and constructed to support provided with a retractable rail upon which the matrices aresupported therein at an upper level, a stop or filler piece adjustable to active or inactive position for arresting the transporter in a raised position or for'permitting it to descend to a normal lower position with reference to the mold, and automatic means for withdrawing the matrix supporting rail before casting takes place when the stop .or filler piece is in active position.

11. In a typographical composing and casting machine, the combination of a vertically movable line transporter for presenting a composed line of matrices to the mold and provided with a retractable rail upon which the matrices are supported therein at an upper level, a stop or filler piece adjustable to active or inactive position forarresting the position or for pera normal lower posithe mold, and autotransporter in a raised mitting it to descend to tion with reference to 'matic means acting during the downward movement of the line transporter for withdrawing the matrix supporting rail when the stop or filler piece is in active position.

the transporter in a raised position or for permitting it to descend to a normal lower pos. on with reference to the mold, a pair of vise aws between which the composed line is located when in. casting position, and automatic means acting during the downward movement of the transporter and before the line enters the vise jaws for withdrawing the matrix supporting rail when the stop or filler piece is in active position.

13. In a typographical composing and casting machine, a combination as in claim 10, characterized by the fact that the retractable rail of the line transporter, after being automatically retracted, is permitted to return to its normal active position within the transporter before the latter is arrested in its downward movement.

14. In a typographical composing and casting machine, a combination as in claim 10, wherein the automatic means referred to include a cam or abutment which eiiects the withdrawal of the matrix supporting rail of the transporter during the downward movement of the latter, and wherein said cam piece or abutment is connected to the stop or filler piece so to be set in an active or inactive position, according to the adjustment of the stop or filler piece.

15. In a typographical composing and casting machine, the combination of an assembler, wherein the matrices are composed in line and provided with a matrix supporting rail adjustable to active or inactive position in determining the lever at which the matrices are composed in. line, a vertically movable line transporter adapted to receive the composed line from the assembler, and provided with a retractable rail upon which the matrices are supported therein at the upper level a stop or filler piece adjustableto active or inactive position for arresting the transporter in a raised position or for permitting it to descend to a normal lower position with ref erence to the mold, and automatic means for withdrawing the transporter rail before the line is presented to the mold when both the assembler rail and the stop or filler piece are in active position.

16. A combination as in claim 4, wherein the automatic rail retracting means include a cam piece adapted to engage the assembler rail, and wherein said cam piece is set in its rail engaging position by the movement of the stop or filler piece to active position, characterized by the fact that the cam piece therein referred to is carried by a vertically disposed pivoted lever arranged adjacent the exit end oi? the assembler and connected by a horizontal rod to he stop or filler piece.

17 A combination as in claim 4, wherein the automatic rail retracting means include a cam piece adapted to engage the assembler rail, and wherein said cam piece is set in its rail engaging position by the movement of the stop or filler piece to active position, characterized by the fact that the cam piece therein referred to is carried by a vertically disposed pivoted lever arranged adjacent the 931: end of the assembler and connected by a horizontal rod to the stop or filler piece, and by the further fact that the stop or tiller piece is pivotally mounted so as to be movable into ac ve or inactive position and is provided w l connected, whereby said rod is caused to locate the cam piece in engaging or non-enposition according to the setting oi the stop or filler piece.

18. A combination as in claim 10, wherein the automatic means referred to include a cam or abutment which effects the withdrawal, of the matrix supporting rail of the trans porter during the downward movement of the latter, and wherein said cam piece or abutment connected to the stop or filler piece so as to be set in an active or inactive position, according to the adjustment of the stop or filler piece, characterized by the fact that the stop or filler piece is pivotally mounted on the v e frame of the machine, and that the r withdrawin cam or abutment is slidably mounted on d frame and is connected to the stop or filler piece by an eccentric or similar device, whereby the two elements are moved to active or inactive position simultaneously.

In testimony whereof, this specification has been duly signed by:

LUTHER E. MORRISON.

a crank arm to which the horizontal rod 

